Method, system, and apparatus for data reuse

ABSTRACT

A system and method may be disclosed for facilitating the creation or modification of a document by providing a mechanism for locating relevant data from external sources and organizing and incorporating some or all of said data into the document. In the method for reusing data, there may be a set of documents that may be queried, where each document may be divided into a plurality of sections. A plurality of section text groups may be formed based on the set of documents, where each section text group may be associated with a respective section from the plurality of sections and each section group includes a plurality of items. Each item may be associated with a respective section from each document of the set of documents. A selected item within a selected section text group may be focused. The selected item may be extracted to a current document. The current document may be exported to a host application.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application relates to co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/413,405, entitled, “INFORMATION CODING SYSTEM AND METHOD”,filed Apr. 15, 2003; co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/XXXXX, entitled, “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UTILIZING NATURAL LANGUAGEPATIENT RECORDS”, filed on May 29, 2003; co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/XXXXX, entitled, “METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUSFOR VALIDATION”, filed on May 30, 2003; and co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/XXXXX, entitled, “METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUSFOR VIEWING DATA”, filed on May 30, 2003, all of which co-pendingapplications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It may be generally known that various governmental agencies,businesses, health care institutions or other similar entities generatemany reports. For example, a metropolitan police department may generatearrest reports for the people arrested by the members of the policedepartment. In the medical industry, physicians, nurses and health careadministrators generate voluminous patient records.

[0003] Often, the reports generated by these entities contain similartext. For example, a report generated by a police officer for a repeatoffender may contain the same information with respect to address,history, etc. Another example may be reports generated by a primary caredoctor and a referred specialist, which may contain the same informationwith regard to the reported health problem, health history, etc.

[0004] Conventional report generating systems may allow a user to reusetext contained in a previous report and apply that text to a currentreport. For example, a user may search a document library for theprevious report and then ‘cut-and-paste’ the relevant sections from theprevious report to the current report.

[0005] However, these conventional report generating systems have theirdrawbacks and disadvantages. For example, such typical report generatingsystems do not provide for a convenient method of focused searching ofprevious reports. Another drawback may be that the conventional systemsdo not organize information contained within multiple previous reportsin a document library. Yet another drawback may be that conventionalsystems do not offer a mechanism to quickly add reusable material to adocument.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An advantage exists in the present invention which facilitatesthe creation or modification of a document by providing a mechanism forlocating relevant data from external sources and organizing andincorporating some or all of the data into the document.

[0007] Another advantage of the present invention includes facilitatingthe dictation of documents by providing a selection of data elementsand/or text sections that have been automatically extracted from otherdocuments that are likely to be relevant to the type of document beingdictated. The present invention may allow a user to select which dataelements and/or text sections are to be reused and where in the newdocument they should be inserted, automatically populating the newdocument with the data and text sections. An advantage exists in thatvaluable time may be saved when creating these new documents, and thepresent invention may be especially effective when substantial portionsof the content of a new dictation is essentially a repeat of what hasbeen stated before in previous dictations. An additional benefit of thepresent invention is that new dictations will likely be more complete,as importing data elements and text sections will prompt a user tohighlight certain key information, which can lead to higher consistencyand efficiency in future dictations. Another benefit may be access todata and/or text sections previously dictated by other third partyusers, which otherwise may not have been accessible.

[0008] As such, in a first aspect, the present invention includes anembodiment that relates to a method of reusing data. The method includesquerying for a set of documents, where each document may be divided intoa plurality of sections. The method also includes forming a plurality ofsection text groups based on the set of documents, where each sectiontext group may be associated with a respective section from theplurality of sections and each section group includes a plurality ofitems. Each item may be associated with a respective section from eachdocument of the set of documents. The method further includes focusingon a selected item within a selected section text group and extractingthe selected item to a working draft document. The method yet furtherincludes exporting the working draft document to a host application.

[0009] In a second aspect, the present invention includes an embodimentthat pertains to a system for reusing data. The system includes at leastone processor, a memory coupled to the at least one processor, adocument library configured to be stored in the memory, and a reuseclient configured to be stored as a computer programmable readable mediain the memory and to be executed by the at least one processor. Thedocument library comprises documents, where each document may be dividedinto a plurality of sections. The reuse client may be configured toquery for documents in the document library and to form a plurality ofsection text groups based on the documents. Each section text group maybe associated with a respective section from the plurality of sectionsand each section group comprises a plurality of items, where each itemmay be associated with a respective section from each document of thedocuments.

[0010] In a third aspect, the present invention includes an embodimentthat relates to an apparatus for reusing data. The apparatus includes ameans for querying for a set of documents, where each document may bedivided into a plurality of sections. The apparatus also includes ameans for forming a plurality of section text groups based on the set ofdocuments, where each section text group may be associated with arespective section from the plurality of sections and each section groupcomprises a plurality of items. Each item may be associated with arespective section from each document of the set of documents.

[0011] In a fourth aspect, the present invention includes an embodimentthat pertains to a computer readable storage medium on which may beembedded one or more computer programs. The one or more computerprograms implements a method of reusing data. The one or more computerprograms includes a set of instructions for querying for documents in adocument library, where each document may be divided into a plurality ofsections. The one or more computer programs also includes forming aplurality of section text groups based on the set of documents, whereeach section text group may be associated with a respective section fromthe plurality of sections and each section group comprises a pluralityof items. Each item may be associated with a respective section fromeach document of the set of documents.

[0012] The above advantages and features are of representativeembodiments only, and are presented only to assist in understanding theinvention. It should be understood that they are not to be consideredlimitations on the invention as defined by the claims, or limitations onequivalents to the claims. Additional features and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from the drawings, the followingdescription, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] While the specification concludes with claims particularlypointing out and distinctly claiming the present invention, it may bebelieved the same will be better understood from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whichillustrate, in a non-limiting fashion, the best mode presentlycontemplated for carrying out the present invention, and in which likereference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures, wherein:

[0014]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary architecture of a reuse clientmodule in accordance with an embodiment;

[0015]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram for the reuse clientin accordance with another embodiment;

[0016]FIG. 3 illustrates a natural language patient record (NLPR) systemutilizing a reuse client module in accordance with yet anotherembodiment;

[0017]FIG. 4 illustrates a reuse viewer GUI provided by the reuse clientmodule in accordance with yet another embodiment;

[0018]FIG. 4A illustrates a detailed view of the data filter componentin accordance with yet another embodiment;

[0019]FIG. 5 illustrates a more detailed flow diagram for the datafiltering component in accordance with yet another embodiment;

[0020]FIG. 6A illustrates a detailed view of the section view componentin accordance with yet another embodiment;

[0021]FIG. 6B illustrates a detailed view of the section view componentin an expanded view in accordance with yet another embodiment;

[0022]FIG. 7A illustrates a more detailed flow diagram for a sectionviewer component in accordance with another embodiment;

[0023]FIG. 7B illustrates a more detailed flow diagram for a sectionviewer component in accordance with another embodiment;

[0024]FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary display of the reuse draftcomponent in conjunction with the section view component in accordancewith yet another embodiment;

[0025]FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram of the reuse client module shownin FIG. 3 in accordance with yet another embodiment; and

[0026]FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a computersystem where an embodiment may be practiced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0027] For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of thepresent invention are described by referring mainly to exemplaryembodiments thereof. However, one of ordinary skill in the art wouldreadily recognize that the same principles are equally applicable to,and can be implemented in, all types of network systems, and that anysuch variations do not depart from the true spirit and scope of thepresent invention. Moreover, in the following detailed description,references are made to the accompanying figures, which illustratespecific embodiments. Electrical, mechanical, logical and structuralchanges may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention. The following detailed descriptionis, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of thepresent invention is defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

[0028] Embodiments of the present invention relate to data reuse. Inparticular, a reuse client module may be configured to provide to a usera reuse viewer graphical user interface (GUI) with a data filtercomponent, a section viewer component, and a reuse draft component. Thedata filter component may be configured to provide the user the abilityto search for a plurality of documents based on number of queryparameters. In the set of retrieved documents, each document may bedivided into sections and text may be associated with each section.

[0029] The reuse client module may be also configured to group togetherthe text associated with the same section from each document in the setof documents. The reuse client module may be further configured todisplay the names of the plurality of the sections in a collapsed treeformat in the section viewer component of the reuse viewer GUI. Thereuse client module may also be further configured to display theassociated text from each document when a section name may be expanded.

[0030] The reuse client may be further configured to display a draftdocument (or report) in the reuse draft component of the reuse viewerGUI, where the draft document displays the associated section names asdisplayed on the section viewer component. A user may hover over asection in the draft document and the selected section will highlight.The user may then select the corresponding section(s)/paragraph(s) inthe section viewer component. The selected section(s)/paragraph(s) arethen appended to the draft document. The reuse client module may beconfigured to send the draft document to a host application when theuser may be finished.

[0031]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary architecture of a reuse clientmodule 100 in accordance with an embodiment. It should be readilyapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the exemplaryarchitecture depicted in FIG. 1 represents a generalized schematicillustration and that other components may be added or existingcomponents may be removed or modified.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the reuse client module 100 includes a reuseclient 110, an input/output (I/O) module 120, a query module 130, and astorage interface 140. The reuse client 110 may be configured to providethe functionality for the reuse client module 100. For example, thereuse client 110 may be configured to perform actions in response touser input received through the I/O module 120. More specifically, theclient reuse 110 may provide a user the capability to reuse dataextracted from existing documents stored in a document library. Thereuse client module 110 may present the extracted data in a manner thatenables one to quickly incorporate the relevant extracted portions intoa draft document.

[0033] The reuse client 110 may also be configured to interface with theI/O module 120. The I/O module 120 may be configured to provide a userinterface for the user to utilize the reuse client module 110. Moreparticularly, the reuse client 110 may invoke the I/O module 120 toprovide an interface to query for document(s), to provide an interfaceto show extracted data from the found documents, and/or to provide aninterface to show a draft document with extracted data selected forreuse. In other embodiments, the functionality of the I/O module 120 maybe merged into the reuse client 110.

[0034] The reuse client 110 may be further configured to interface withthe storage interface 140. The storage interface 140 may provide amechanism for the reuse client module 100 to access existing documentsfor querying. The storage interface 140 may be a set of function calls,remote procedure calls or other similar interfaces.

[0035] The reuse client 110 may be further configured to interface withthe query module 130. The query module 130 may receive query parametersfrom an interface generated by the I/O module 120 to search for adocument or a set of documents. Alternatively, the query module 130 mayreceive the query parameters through the reuse client 110. The querymodule 130 may be configured to implement a search through either thestorage interface 140 directly or through the reuse client 110 for thedocuments that match the received query parameters. For the matchingdocuments, the query module may forward the matching documents to thereuse client 110. In other embodiments, the functionality of the querymodule 110 may be merged with the reuse client 110.

[0036] The reuse client module 100 may be implemented as a softwareprogram, a utility, a subroutine, or other similar programming entity.In this respect, the reuse client module 100 may be implemented usingsoftware languages such as C, C++, JAVA, etc. Alternatively, the reuseclient module 100 may be implemented as an electronic device utilizingan application specific integrated circuit, discrete components,solid-state components or a combination thereof.

[0037]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram 200 for the reuseclient 110 in accordance with another embodiment. It should be readilyapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that this method 200represents a generalized illustration and that other steps may be addedor existing steps may be removed or modified.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, a host application may invoke the reuseclient module 100 by initiating a command, in step 205. Alternatively,the host application may have a menu item that represents the reuseclient 100 or by a function call. Once invoked, the reuse client 110 mayinvoke the I/O module 120 to provide a graphical user interface for auser to input query parameters.

[0039] In step 210, the query module 130 may initiate a search for therequested documents based on the received query parameters. If matchingdocuments are found, the query module 130 may forward the matchingdocuments to the reuse client 110. Although not shown, if no matchingdocuments are found, the query module 130 may notify the user of thelack of matching documents through the I/O module 120.

[0040] In step 215, the reuse client 110 may be configured to organizethe retrieved document(s). More specifically, the documents are dividedinto a plurality of sections. The reuse client 110 may be configured tocreate a section group for each of the sections in the document. Foreach section, the reuse client may extract the text from the sectionfrom each of the documents and group the extracted text within thesection group.

[0041] In step 220, the reuse client 110 may invoke the I/O module 120to display the section groups in a collapsed tree format. The I/O module120 may be configured to expand a section group in response to a userevent. The I/O module 120 may then display the extracted text from thedocuments for the expanded section group.

[0042] In step 225, a user may select extracted text within an expandedsection group. The reuse client 110 may then place the selectedextracted text within a draft document provided by the I/O module 120.

[0043] In step 230, after completion of the selection extracted text,the reuse client 110 may export the draft document to the hostapplication in response to another user event received through the I/Omodule 120. Subsequently, in step 235, the reuse client module 100 mayexit.

[0044] Accordingly, a user may be presented with relevant document(s)for reuse through the reuse client module 110. Moreover, a user mayquickly view relevant portions within the relevant document(s) to reusein the user's current document.

[0045]FIG. 3 illustrates a natural language patient record (NLPR) system300 utilizing a reuse client module in accordance with yet anotherembodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the NLPR system 300 includes a pluralityof workstations 305 interconnected by a network 310. The NLPR system 300also includes a server 315 executing a computer readable version 320 ofthe NLPR system and data storage 325. The NLPR system 300 may be asystem for maintaining electronic medical records of patients, which maybe described in greater detail in co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/XXXXX, entitled, and hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

[0046] The workstations 305 may be personal computers, laptops,workstations, or other similar computing element. The workstations 305execute a physician workstation (PWS) client 330 from the NLPR system300. The PWS client 325 provide the capability for a physician todictate, review, and/or edit medical records to the NLPR system 300.

[0047] The workstations 305 also execute a transcriptionist client 335for a transcriptionist to access and convert audio files into electronictext. The NLPR system 300 may also use speech engines to automaticallyconvert dictations from physicians into electronic text.

[0048] The network 310 may be configured to provide a communicationchannel between the workstations 305 and the server 315. The network 310may be a wide area network, local area network or combination thereof.The network 310 may implement wired protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, X.25,IEEE802.3, IEEE802.5, etc.), wireless protocols (e.g., IEEE802.11, CDPD,etc.) or a combination thereof.

[0049] The server 315 may be a computing device capable of providingservices to the workstations 305. The server 315 may be implementedusing HP RX5670, IBM xSeries205, Sun Microsystem SunFire V1280, or othersimilar computing platform. The server 315 may be configured to executea computer readable version of the NLPR software 320. The NLPR softwareprovides functionality for the NLPR system 300. The NLPR system 300 mayreceive audio files and/or documents by other network access means suchas electronic mail, file transfer protocols, and other networktransferring protocols.

[0050] The data storage 325 may be configured to interface with network310 and provide storage services to the workstations 305 and the server315. The data storage 325 may also be configured to store a variety offiles such as audio, documents, and/or templates. In some embodiments,the data storage 325 includes a file manager (not shown) that providesservices to manage and access the files stored therein. The data storage325 may be implemented as a network-attached storage or through aninterface through the server 315.

[0051] The server 315 may be further configured to interface with anembodiment of the reuse client module 340. A user may invoke the reuseclient module 340 through a PWS client 320. For example, the reuseclient module 340 may be a menu item on a graphical user interface ofthe PWS client 320. Alternatively, a user may use a command line promptat the PWS client 320 to invoke the reuse client module. Once invoked,the reuse client module 340 may display a reuse viewer graphical userinterface (GUI) as shown in FIG. 4.

[0052]FIG. 4 illustrates a reuse viewer GUI 400 provided by the reuseclient module 340 in accordance with yet another embodiment. It shouldbe readily apparent that the elements of the reuse viewer GUI 400 may bedeleted and/or modified and new elements added.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, the reuse viewer GUI 400 includes a datafilter component 410, a section viewer component 420, and a reuse draftviewer 430. The data filter component 410 may be configured to displayvarious query parameters to filter documents. For example, the datafilter component 410 may display query options to filter medical recordsgenerated by the NLPR system 300 (shown in FIG. 3), which may be shownin greater detail in FIG. 4A.

[0054]FIG. 4A illustrates a detailed view of the data filter component410 in accordance with yet another embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4A forthis particular embodiment, the data filter component 410 includesfilter (or query) parameters of ‘Work-Type’ parameter 411, ‘Encounter’parameter 412, ‘Time Frame’ parameter 413, and a ‘Dictated By’ parameter414. The work parameter 411 may be configured to have a variety ofsub-parameters. For example, the Work Type parameter 411 may include an“Any” sub-parameter to find all records associated with a selectedpatient. The sub-parameters of Work Type parameter 411 may also includedischarge sheet, admission form, or any other type of record generatedfor a patient.

[0055] The Encounter parameter 412 may be configured to locate therecords associated with a type of visit for a patient. In that regard,the Encounter parameter 412 may have sub-parameters of “current visit”,“last visit”, “current and last visit”, and/or “any visit” to assist inthe scope of the search for records in the NLPR system 300.

[0056] The Time Frame parameter 412 may be configured to locate recordswithin a specified block of time. Accordingly, the Time Frame parameter412 may include sub-parameters of “yesterday”, “last week”, and/or “last30 days” to assist in the scope of the search for records in the NLPRsystem 300.

[0057] The Dictated-By parameter 414 may be configured to locate recordsauthored by a specific user. In that respect, the Dictated-By parameter414 may include sub-parameters of “me”, “anyone”, “cardiology”,“radiology” or any other department that has contact with a patient, tofocus the scope of the search for records in the NLPR system 300.

[0058] The reuse viewer GUI 400 also includes a “Find” button 415 and a“Help” button 416. The Find button 415 may be configured to query orapply a data filter to the document database of the NLPR system 300. Theresults of the search are displayed on the section viewer component 420.The Help button 416 may be configured to display a window ofinstructions to assist the user in the operation of the reuse viewer GUI400.

[0059]FIG. 5 illustrates a more detailed flow diagram 500 for the datafiltering component 410 in accordance with yet another embodiment. Itshould be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art thatthis flow diagram 500 represents a generalized illustration and thatother steps may be added or existing steps may be removed or modified.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 5, the reuse client module 340 may be configuredto initiate the data filter component 410, in step 505. Moreparticularly, the reuse client module 340 may determine whether or not auser has specified personal (or customized) filter parameters. If a userhas specified the use of customized filter parameters, the reuse clientmodule 340 may be configured to retrieve the customized filterparameters from a predetermined location, e.g., a user profile, anddisplay the customized filter parameters in the data filter component410. Otherwise, the reuse client module 340 may be configured to displaythe default filter parameters in the data filter component 410.

[0061] In step 515, the reuse client module 340 receives an indicationthat the user has selected a filter parameter in the data filtercomponent 410. For example, in the default display of the data filtercomponent 410, the reuse client displays ‘Work-type’ filter, an‘Encounter’ filter, a ‘Time Frame’ filter, and a ‘Dictated Persons'filter. In step 520, the reuse client module 340 may determine if userhas changed the value in the selected filter. If the user has changedthe value, in step 525, the reuse client module 340 may store theparameter and return to step 520. More particularly, the reuse clientmodule 340 may detect a change in the parameters of Work-type,Encounter, Time, and/or Dictated Persons filters. For example, a usermay select “Last 30 Days” in the Time filter to query for documents.Otherwise, if the user has not changed the value, the reuse clientmodule 340 may set the filter parameters to a default value, e.g., ‘Any’value.

[0062] In step 530, the reuse client module 340 may be configured toreceive an indication that the user has activated the ‘Find’ button.Subsequently, the reuse client module 340 may form a query (or filter)the document library with the set filter parameters as discussed above.

[0063] In step 535, the reuse client module 340 may be configured toretrieve the relevant documents from the document library and displaythe relevant documents in the section viewer component 420 of the reuseviewer GUI 400. If documents are not found, the reuse client module 340may indicate to the user that the query failed to find relevantdocuments. Subsequently, the reuse client module 340 may be configuredto exit the processing for method 500.

[0064] Returning to FIG. 4, the section view component 420 may beconfigured to display the results from a query initiated in the datafilter component 410 in a tree-view like structure. The availablesections for reuse and its contents are organized as paragraphs in areport-wise format. More particularly, the reuse client module 340 maybe configured to organize the documents according to sections. Eachdocument in the NLPR system 300 may be divided into sections. For eachsection, the reuse client module 340 may be configured to retrieve theassociated text from that section in each of the retrieved documents.The retrieved associated text may be then organized as paragraphs underthe section in the section viewer component 420, which may beillustrated in FIG. 4B.

[0065]FIG. 6A illustrates a detailed view of the section view component420 in accordance with yet another embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4B, thesection view component 420 initially displays sections names (PastHistory 602, Physical Examination 604, Assessment and Plan 606, Problems608, Medications 610, and Allergies 612) as a top-level tree. Expandboxes 614 are also display with the associated section name.

[0066] When a section may be expanded, i.e., the selected expand box maybe activated, the reuse client module 340 may be configured to display alist of reports pertaining to the selected section as the next levelitem of the tree, where the contents are organized as paragraphs, asillustrated with FIG. 6B.

[0067]FIG. 6B illustrates a detailed view of the section view component420 in an expanded view in accordance with yet another embodiment. Asshown in FIG. 4C, the reuse client module 340 may be configured todisplay the relevant documents found by the data filtering component 410organized by sections names. More particularly, the section viewcomponent 420 displays Past History 602 with two reports 616, 618. Thetwo reports also include associated expand boxes 620.

[0068] In this particular view, a user has expanded the view on report618 to show additional subsections 622, 624. The additional subsectionsalso include associated expand boxes 626. The associated expand box forreport 624 was activated to display the individual paragraphs 628, 630,632. After activation of the expand boxes, the same expand boxes becomecollapse boxes to collapse the display.

[0069] The individual paragraphs 628-632 also include associated checkboxes 634. The client reuse module 340 may be configured to appendindividual paragraphs 628-632 to a draft document in response to thecheck boxes being activated. The client reuse module may also appendsections from a report. For example, Physical Examination 636 underPhysical Examination 604 displays associated expand box 626 andassociated check box 638. As shown, associated check box 638 may bechecked, which then activates the check marks for check boxes 640 of theparagraphs in the subsection Physical Examination 636. The text from thePhysical Examination 636 may then be appended to the draft document inresponse to the activation of check box 638.

[0070]FIG. 7A illustrates a more detailed flow diagram 700 for sectionviewer component 420 in accordance with another embodiment. It should bereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that this flowdiagram 700 represents a generalized illustration and that other stepsmay be added or existing steps may be removed or modified.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 7A, the reuse client module 340 may receive anindication from the section viewer component 420 that the user hasselected a section by activating the selected section, e.g., checkingthe check box, in step 705.

[0072] In step 710, the reuse client module 340 may be configured toselect all the paragraphs under the selected section by checking therespective check boxes.

[0073]FIG. 7B illustrates a more detailed flow diagram 700′ for sectionviewer component 420 in accordance with another embodiment. It should bereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that this flowdiagram 700′ represents a generalized illustration and that other stepsmay be added or existing steps may be removed or modified.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 7B, the reuse client module 340 may beconfigured to receive indication that a user has selected a section bythe expansion of the selected section in step 705′.

[0075] In step 710′, the reuse client module 340 may be configured toreceive indication that the user has selected a paragraph(s) with theselected section by the checking of the selected paragraph(s).

[0076] Returning to FIG. 4, the reuse draft component 430 may beconfigured to provide an at-a-glance view of all paragraphs and/orsections selected from the section view component 420 in a draft (orcurrent) document. The reuse draft component 430 may also provide a userthe capability to reuse paragraphs from one section in another sectionof a current report. An example of the reuse draft component 430 inconjunction with the section view component 420 may be illustrated inFIG. 8 in accordance with yet another embodiment.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 8, the reuse client module 340 may be configuredto highlight a Physical Examination section 802 when a user hovers overthe Physical Examination section 802 with a cursor. The reuse clientmodule 340 may display the paragraphs from the Physical Examinationsection 804 in the section viewer component 420. The reuse client module340 may also be configured to append selected paragraphs to the currentdocument displayed on the reuse draft component 430 in response to aselection of the selected paragraphs in the section viewer component420.

[0078] The reuse draft component 430 also includes a ‘Move-to’ drop downbox 806, an ‘OK’ button 808, a ‘Delete’ button 810, a ‘Reuse’ button812, a ‘Cancel’ button 814, a ‘Close’ button 816, and a ‘Print’ icon818. The Move-to drop down box 806 may be configured to move ahighlighted paragraph to another section within the reuse draftcomponent 430. More particularly, a user may activate the associatedcheck box(es) for selected section(s). The user then selects adestination section in the Move-to drop down box 806. Subsequently, theuser activates the OK button 808, which then removes the selectedparagraphs from 808 and which may be configured to initiate the transferfrom a source section to a destination section for the Move-to function.

[0079] The Delete button 810 may be configured to erase or removehighlighted paragraphs from the current document in the reuse draftcomponent 430. More specifically, a user may activate the associatedcheck box(es) for selected paragraph(s). The user then activates theDelete button 810 to delete the selected paragraph(s).

[0080] The Reuse button 812 may be configured to copy selected materialto the host application. More particularly, the reuse client module 340may copy the contents of the current document to the host application inresponse to the activation of the Reuse button 812. Subsequently, thereuse viewer GUI interface 400 closes and control returns the hostapplication.

[0081] The Cancel button 814 may be configured not to implement any ofthe changes to a current document in the reuse draft component 430. Moreparticularly, the reuse client 430 may clear the paragraph(s) copied tothe reuse draft component 430 and return to the host application.

[0082] The Close button 450 may be configured to close the reuse viewerGUI 400. More specifically, the reuse client 340 may display a dialogwindow to advise a user that closing the reuse viewer GUI 400 willresult in losing the current copied data. If the user selects to closethe window, the reuse client module 340 initiates an exiting routine forthe reuse viewer GUI 400. Otherwise, if the user decides not to cancel,the reuse client module 340 returns to the reuse viewer GUI 400.

[0083]FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram 900 of the reuse client module340 in accordance with yet another embodiment. It should be readilyapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that this flow diagram900 represents a generalized illustration and that other steps may beadded or existing steps may be removed or modified.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 9, the reuse client module 340 may be initiatedby a host application, e.g., NLPR system 300, in step 902. Moreparticularly, the host application may invoke the reuse client module byactivating a menu item, an icon, command line prompt or other similarprogram initiation technique. The host application may specifyattributes in the initiation of the reuse client module 340. Forexample, the NLPR system 300 specifies the attributes of provider,patient, dictated persons, and the sections to reuse. As anotherexample, for a patent attorney system, the host application may specifythe attributes of the client, dictated persons, and sections to reuse.

[0085] In step 904, the client reuse module 330 may display thegraphical user interface such as the reuse viewer GUI 400.

[0086] In step 906, in displaying the data filter component 410, thereuse client module 340 may prompt a user of whether or not to selectcustomized filter (or query) parameters that have been previously savedin a user preference profile. If the user decides not to use thecustomized filter parameters, the reuse client module 340 may displaydefault filter parameters, e.g., parameters shown in FIG. 4A, in step908. Otherwise, in step 910, the reuse client module 340 may retrievethe customized filter parameters from the user preference profile. Instep 912, the reuse client module 340 may display the customized filterparameters on the data filter component 410. Subsequently, the reuseclient module 340 may display the data filter component 410 with theappropriate data filter parameters, the section viewer component 420,and the reuse draft component 430.

[0087] In step 914, a user may highlight a section displayed on thereuse draft component 430. The reuse client module 340 may be configuredto display the sections where reuse may be possible and in the orderthat the sections appear in the host application, in step 916.

[0088] In step 918, the reuse client module 340 may be configured todetermine whether a user selected an entire section or selectedparagraphs in response to a user activation of a section heading. If theuser selected the entire section heading, the reuse client module 340may mark the entire section as being used, in step 920. Otherwise, thereuse client module 340 determines whether or not an individualparagraph under the section heading has been selected, in step 922.

[0089] If the reuse client module 340 determines that a paragraph hasnot been selected, the reuse client returns to the processing of step918. Otherwise, the reuse client module 340 may mark the selectedparagraphs as check in the section view component 420, in step 922.

[0090] In step 924, the reuse client module may be configured to appendthe material with check marks to the current document displayed in thereuse draft component 430. Subsequently, the reuse client module 340 mayprompt a user through a dialog box whether or not the user would like tomodify the filter settings. If the reuse client module 340 receivesindication that the user would like to modify the filter settings, thereuse client module 340 may filter for new documents in the documentlibrary of the NLPR system 300. The reuse client module 340 may displaythe newly filtered documents in the section viewer component 420 withappropriate markings for sections that have already been reused.

[0091] In step 928, when the reuse client module 340 receives indicationthat the Reuse button 446 has been activated, the reuse client module340 may transfer the contents of the reuse draft section to the callinghost application, e.g., the NLPR system 300. Subsequently, in step 930,the reuse client module 340 closes the reuse viewer GUI 400.

[0092]FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a computersystem 1000 where an embodiment may be practiced. The functions of theexpressway routing module may be implemented in program code andexecuted by the computer system 1000. The reuse client module 340 andthe NLPR system 300 may be implemented in computer languages such asPASCAL, C, C++, JAVA, etc.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 10, the computer system 1000 includes one ormore processors, such as processor 1002, that provide an executionplatform for embodiments of the expressway routing module. Commands anddata from the processor 1002 are communicated over a communication bus1004. The computer system 1000 also includes a main memory 1006, such asa Random Access Memory (RAM), where the software for the expresswayrouting module may be executed during runtime, and a secondary memory1008. The secondary memory 1008 includes, for example, a hard disk drive1020 and/or a removable storage drive 1022, representing a floppydiskette drive, a magnetic tape drive, a compact disk drive, etc., wherea copy of a computer program embodiment for the expressway routingmodule may be stored. The removable storage drive 1022 reads from and/orwrites to a removable storage unit 1024 in a well-known manner. A userinterfaces with the expressway routing module with a keyboard 1026, amouse 1028, and a display 1020. The display adaptor 1022 interfaces withthe communication bus 1004 and the display 1020 and receives displaydata from the processor 1002 and converts the display data into displaycommands for the display 1020.

[0094] Certain embodiments may be performed as a computer program. Thecomputer program may exist in a variety of forms both active andinactive. For example, the computer program can exist as softwareprogram(s) comprised of program instructions in source code, objectcode, executable code or other formats; firmware program(s); or hardwaredescription language (HDL) files. Any of the above can be embodied on acomputer readable medium, which include storage devices and signals, incompressed or uncompressed form. Exemplary computer readable storagedevices include conventional computer system RAM (random access memory),ROM (read-only memory), EPROM (erasable, programmable ROM), EEPROM(electrically erasable, programmable ROM), and magnetic or optical disksor tapes. Exemplary computer readable signals, whether modulated using acarrier or not, are signals that a computer system hosting or runningthe present invention can be configured to access, including signalsdownloaded through the Internet or other networks. Concrete examples ofthe foregoing include distribution of executable software program(s) ofthe computer program on a CD-ROM or via Internet download. In a sense,the Internet itself, as an abstract entity, may be a computer readablemedium. The same may be true of computer networks in general.

[0095] While the invention has been described with reference to theexemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able tomake various modifications to the described embodiments withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope. The terms and descriptionsused herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meantas limitations. In particular, although the method has been described byexamples, the steps of the method may be performed in a different orderthan illustrated or simultaneously. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that these and other variations are possible within the spiritand scope as defined in the following claims and their equivalents.

[0096]FIG. 10 illustrates a more detailed flow diagram 900 for reusedraft component 430 in accordance with another embodiment. It should bereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that this flowdiagram 800 represents a generalized illustration and that other stepsmay be added or existing steps may be removed or modified.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 8, the reuse client module 340 may be configuredto receive indication that the user chooses to add material to a currentdocument in the reuse draft component 430 by hovering over a selectedsection, in step 805. Subsequently, the reuse client module 340 mayhighlight the selected section, in step 810.

[0098] In step 815, the reuse client module 340 may receive indicationthat the user has expanded the associated selected section in thesection viewer component 420. In step 820, the reuse client module 340may receive a selection of individual paragraph(s) or entire selectionfor reuse by the user selecting the appropriate check box, as discussedabove.

[0099] In step 820, the reuse client module 340 may append the selectedmaterial from step 820 to the current document in the reuse draftcomponent 430. Subsequently, the reuse client module 340 enters an idlestate waiting for user input.

[0100] For the convenience of the reader, the above description hasfocused on a representative sample of all possible embodiments, a samplethat teaches the principles of the invention and conveys the best modecontemplated for carrying it out. The description has not attempted toexhaustively enumerate all possible variations. Further undescribedalternative embodiments are possible. It will be appreciated that manyof those undescribed embodiments are within the literal scope of thefollowing claims, and others are equivalent.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for reusing data, the method comprisingthe steps of: querying for a set of documents, each document dividedinto a plurality of sections; forming a plurality of section text groupsbased on the set of documents, wherein each section text group isassociated with a respective section from the plurality of sections andeach section group comprises a plurality of items, each item associatedwith a respective section from each document of the set of documents;focusing on a selected item within a selected section text group;extracting the selected item to a working draft document; and exportingthe working draft document to a host application.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: providing agraphical user interface (GUI); and displaying a data filter componenton the GUI;
 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising thestep of providing for a plurality of querying options on the data filtercomponent.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the plurality ofquerying options includes at least one of work type option, an encounteroption, a time frame option, or an author type option.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: providing agraphical user interface (GUI); and displaying a section viewercomponent on the GUI.
 6. The method according to claim 5, furthercomprising the step of displaying a plurality of section text groups onthe section viewer component.
 7. The method according to claim 6,wherein the plurality of section headings comprises at least one of pasthistory heading, a physical examination heading, an assessment and planheading, a problem heading, a medication heading, and an allergiesheading.
 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the plurality ofsection text group is displayed as a collapsed tree format.
 9. Themethod according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of: focusingon the selected section text group; and displaying associated pluralityof items of the selected section text group as leaves in an expandedtree format.
 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising thesteps of: providing a graphical user interface (GUI); and displaying areuse draft component on the GUI.
 11. A system for reusing data, thesystem comprising: at least one processor; a memory coupled to the atleast one processor; a document library configured to be stored on thememory, the document library comprising documents, each document dividedinto a plurality of sections; and a reuse client configured to be storeda computer programmable readable media in the memory and to be executedby the at least one processor, wherein the reuse client is configured toquery for documents in the document library and to form a plurality ofsection text groups based on the documents, each section text group isassociated with a respective section from the plurality of sections andeach section group comprises a plurality of items, each item associatedwith a respective section from each document of the documents.
 12. Thesystem according to claim 11, further comprising an input/output (I/O)module coupled to the reuse client, wherein the I/O module is configuredto provide a graphical user interface (GUI) displaying the plurality ofsection text groups in a collapsed tree output.
 13. The system accordingto claim 12, wherein the reuse client is also configured to invoke theI/O module to display an associated plurality of items for a selectedsection text group in an expanded tree format in response to activatingthe selected section text group.
 14. The system according to claim 13,wherein the client module is further configured to receive a selectionof an item of the associated plurality of items from the I/O module andis further configured to invoke the I/O module to display the item ofthe associated plurality of items on a draft document.
 15. The systemaccording to claim 14, wherein the client module is configured to exportthe draft document in response to an exiting event received from the I/Omodule.
 16. An apparatus for reusing data, the apparatus comprising:means for querying for a set of documents, each document divided into aplurality of sections; and means for forming a plurality of section textgroups based on the set of documents, wherein each section text group isassociated with a respective section from the plurality of sections andeach section group comprises a plurality of items, each item associatedwith a respective section from each document of the set of documents.17. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising: means forfocusing on a selected item within a selected section text group; andmeans for extracting the selected item to a current document.
 18. Theapparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: means for providinga graphical user interface (GUI); means for displaying a data filtercomponent on the GUI; and means for providing for a plurality ofquerying options on the data filter component.
 19. The apparatusaccording to claim 18, further comprising: means for displaying asection viewer component on the GUI; and means for displaying aplurality of section text groups on the section viewer component. 20.The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising: displaying areuse draft component on the GUI and exporting the current document to ahost application.
 21. A computer readable storage medium on which isembedded one or more computer programs, the one or more computerprograms implementing a method reusing data, the one or more computerprograms comprising a set of instructions for: querying for documents ina document library, each document divided into a plurality of sections;and forming a plurality of section text groups based on the set ofdocuments, wherein each section text group is associated with arespective section from the plurality of sections and each section groupcomprises a plurality of items, each item associated with a respectivesection from each document of the set of documents.
 22. The computerreadable storage medium in according to claim 21, the set ofinstructions further comprising: focusing on a selected item within aselected section text group; and extracting the selected item to acurrent document.
 23. The computer readable storage medium in accordingto claim 2, the set of instructions further comprising: providing agraphical user interface (GUI); displaying a data filter component onthe GUI; and providing for a plurality of querying options on the datafilter component.
 24. The computer readable storage medium in accordingto claim 23, the set of instructions further comprising: displaying asection viewer component on the GUI; and displaying the plurality ofsection text groups on the section viewer component.
 25. The computerreadable storage medium in according to claim 23, the set ofinstructions further comprising: displaying a reuse draft component onthe GUI; and exporting the current document to a host application.